Tehran, 4 August 2024 (TDI): Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Israel assassinated Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh using a “short-range projectile” launched from outside of his accommodation in Tehran.
The Guards said in a statement that this terrorist operation was carried out by firing a short-range projectile with a warhead of about seven kilograms — causing a powerful explosion — from outside the accommodation area.
It added that Israel was supported by the United States (US) in the attack.Haniyeh was killed early Wednesday in Tehran where he was attending the swearing-in of the new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran and Hamas have pledged to retaliate.
The Guards repeated their insistence that Haniyeh would be avenged and that Israel would receive “a severe punishment at the appropriate time, place, and manner.”
Israel had earlier attacked a Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut.
That attack killed a senior commander of Hezbollah it blamed for a deadly weekend rocket strike on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
IRGC’s PR office: The assassination operation of Martyr Ismail Haniyeh was carried out by firing a short-range projectile with a 7-kilogram warhead from outside the guest’s accommodation which caused a strong explosion. pic.twitter.com/PtC9MKUxrS
— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) August 3, 2024
The assassinations are the latest of several major incidents that have intensified regional tensions during the Gaza war.
In Iran, the voices clamoring for revenge have intensified since Haniyeh’s murder.
On Saturday, the ultraconservative Kayhan daily said retaliatory operations were likely to be more dispersed, more diverse, and impossible to intercept.
The newspaper said in an opinion piece that this time, areas such as Haifa and Tel Aviv and the strategic centers, particularly residences of some officials involved in the recent crimes are among the targets.
